Beloved by Former Players, Johnson's Human Touch Shines Through

There are football coaches who yell and scream, while some talk in measured tones and offer encouragement. There are those who seem as if they are robots, always focusing on the next play, the next game, living and breathing through football.

Newly hired Ohio State assistant Larry Johnson is the soft-spoken coach who’s a human being. A football lifer, Johnson understands the importance of life outside football and being compassionate inside the macho game.

That’s why Johnson’s won over so many recruits – and parents – and earned respect on the uber-competitive trail. It’s why his former players speak of him with a twinkle in their eye and wide grin from ear to ear. Johnson has that unique blend of football coach, mentor, friend and father that few coaches capture.

“I’m a relationship guy and I think in order to get the best out of your players you have to develop relationships,” Johnson said after his hiring. “I’m also a teacher. I like to teach the basic fundamentals of football. I want guys who are fundamentally sound and have the ability to play fast and to play relentless.”

In a single quote, Johnson displayed his full personality. Perhaps his finest moment came in Ohio Stadium’s most horrific hour. On Sept. 28, 2000, the Buckeyes were closing out a 45-6 win over the Nittany Lions when freshman cornerback Adam Taliaferro was paralyzed from the neck down after a vicious hit on a kick return.

The Penn State family was fragile during the ordeal, but Johnson stood tall and delivered a fiery sermon and prayer that helped galvanize the community during a period of sorrow.

“It’s hard to put into words, but Coach Johnson would immediately make you feel like family when you’d first met him,” Taliaferro told Eleven Warriors. “From Day 1 he looks you in the eye and you know you’re getting the truth when he speaks to you. Often times Coach J would not even speak about football, he would talk about the importance of being good men.”

Penn State players showed their support for Johnson.

Devon Still, an All-American defensive tackle, discovered that same Larry Johnson. Before he became one of the best players in the country, Still suffered a series of serious injuries that could have derailed his career. But long hours of successful rehab followed, and while he was down emotionally and mentally, Johnson was at his side for reassurance.

“What was so special about Coach Johnson is he never yelled or cursed, but when he spoke everyone paid attention. The relationship he has is more than player/coach, and I think that’s why his D-linemen were always successful,” said Taliaferro, who’s now a member of Penn State’s Board of Trustees. “They were not only playing for themselves, but they did not want to disappoint the man they had so much respect for.”

During his 18 years in State College, Johnson coached special teams, defensive ends, the defensive line and was an ace recruiter. He also oversaw day-to-day operations when the Nittany Lions searched for a new head coach.

Twice in the past three years, Penn State has been left without a head football coach. In both instances, one candidate garnered the overwhelming support of former and current players – Johnson.

Taliaferro tweeted, “Daydreaming..Coach Johnson HC at PSU...@LaVarArrington as LB coach...find a OC and other staff and lets roll #RecruitingOn100 #PSU.” Still made an impassioned plea on instagram and detailed how important Johnson was to Penn State.

“I've NEVER in life met a man other then my father that I knew I could always count on,” Still wrote. “The one coach I know would do anything for his players and put his career on the line to fight for something he truly believed in. While I was at [Penn State], he had many offers to move on to other institutions to advance his career, but he never left because during the recruiting process he told us he would be the one coaching us throughout our college career, and he was a man of his word.

“His track record speaks for itself. He’s had numerous defensive linemen named All-Americans and later became NFL draft picks, so he knows how to bring the best out of players. A man that’s been apart of the community and school for 15+ years, so he knows what [Penn State] represents to many across the world. We all speak about hiring a coach that’s going to be loyal to the program, so why not be loyal to a coach who has done so much for this program and give him a shot at being [head coach].”

The hashtag #SupportCoachJ went viral among Penn Staters, as did a photo of Johnson with the words “Success with honor” and “Pride.” But it was all for naught. James Franklin, one of the bright young minds in the sport, traded Vanderbilt for Penn State.

So Johnson will bring his talent evaluation, coaching, fatherly role and player barbecues to Ohio State. All of the aforementioned skills/traits/characteristics are why Still de-committed from Ohio State in 2007 – and why Meyer sees so much value in having Johnson on his staff.

Taliaferro roomed with Johnson’s son, Tony, at Penn State and saw firsthand the relationship between father and son. What he witnessed didn’t differ from the way Johnson treated his players. He kept them close, delivered doses of reality when it was needed and served as a calming influence amidst trying times.

Said Taliaferro: “He is a special coach and will always have the respect of anyone who played for him.”

Comments

Actually I think he did with Meyer not too long ago. Im sure he's taking over Vrabel's recruiting of the Chicago area. Let's hope he makes an impact with Jones like he seems to be with McDowell getting him to take an OV.

Respect is what sticks out most about this article. Most players respect the coach as a coach, but I truly dont think all players respect coaches as people. When you respect someone you're playing for as a person, it adds fuel. When you feel close to them as more than just player-coach, you have so much more burden to play hard and get it done for them. You don't want to let them down because of the respect you have and it hurts even more when you do.
It sounds like LJ earns that respect as a person from his players and it seems to set him apart. Glad to have him as a buckeye now!

I can't wait to se all these amazing things written about coach Johnson as a Buckeye coach, with future defensive linemen wearing the S&G and giving credit to the man who helped develop them as quality young men and All-Americans.

I love to hear all the compliments about Coach Johnson from his former players who obviously think very highly of him as a man as well as a coach. I have followed his 18yrs. in State College from afar and he has had my respect for a long time now (as I am sure he has had from many here). This article to me describes what a football coach should be at any level, a mentor, who will talk the truth to a young men and try to help them grow into good Husbands, Fathers, and be pillars of a community. I see all of that in Coach Johnson and am very happy he is now working with our young men. Welcome to Buckeye Nation Coach.

"While I was at [Penn State], he had many offers to move on to other institutions to advance his career, but he never left because during the recruiting process he told us he would be the one coaching us throughout our college career, and he was a man of his word."
Glad to have Coach Johnson on board, because the one thing I hate the most about the NCAA is the fact that players are locked into all these draconian procedures if they want to leave a team, but any coach can just leave his players in the lurch the second the going gets good.
And don't take that as some sour grapes potshot at Coach Vrabel, He was the man and remains one of my favorite football players/coaches of all time. Just a general comment on the state of college athletics.

The answer may not be at the bottom of a bottle, but it never hurts to check.

I like that he teaches things outside of the box. The drills and everything are something different for the guys, and aren't the same things they always do. Cool way of going at it. And he seems like a serious class act, and a real addition. Although I loved him like a fat kid loves cake he softens the blow of losing Vrabel a lot.